Thurston County wonders: Where's the federal aid?

Thurston County wonders: Where's the federal aid?

Rochester resident Geneva Brown, left, breaks down as her husband (not pictured), talks about the flood damage to their house during a meeting at Rochester High School. (AP Photo/The Olympian, Steven M. Herppich)

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Story Published: Dec 11, 2007 at 7:28 PM PDT

Story Updated: Dec 12, 2007 at 9:41 AM PDT

By KOMO Staff

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ROCHESTER, Wash. -- Lewis and Grays Harbor County have been declared federal disaster areas. But people in Thurston County are hoping they'll be included in the declaration after suffering at least $14 million in damage from last week's storm.

Residents in Thurston County say the same high water that did so much damage in nearby Lewis County is the same high water that hit them. They gathered in Rochester on Tuesday night to make the argument that they should get immediate federal help too.

"Why do you only have to live in a certain county to be covered?" asked Mack Peapealalo, who was at the meeting at Rochester High School. "If you've got a disaster, it's a disaster."

More than 60 homes were destroyed in Thurston County, and officials expect that number to rise as the damage is tallied.

We've seen the pictures time and time again of so many personal belongings in Lewis County just hauled away to the dump in the wake of heavy flooding. But Thurston County has similar images.

Officials at the Thurston County Emergency Operations Center are urging victims to report their damage so they can pass the numbers on to FEMA, and residents at the meeting were able to fill out damage forms on the spot. But it doesn't mean immediate help.

"When one person loses their home or has damage to their home, it's a disaster to them," said Kurt Hardin with the state's Emergency Management Division.

Those who suffered damage in the storm say say it's unbelievable that their neighbor across the county line gets immediate aid, and they don't.

"We were isolated during the flood," said victim Rich Hendricks. "And I guess nobody wants to have anything to do with us."

There is a lot riding on the declaration, which would make flood victims eligible for up to $28,000 in grant money to help get them through the tough times.

Peapealalo said he's been shuffled from one department to another just trying to get answers.

"Everybody passes you off," he said.

Local and federal emergency management officials will be out again on Wednesday assessing the damage and could decide within the next few days if the county should also be considered a disaster area.


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